A Red Deer couple is looking for a little class action.
Kayle Osborne and her boyfriend Dusty Spiller are starting Learn It Red Deer, an education-based business that will teach students whatever they want to learn about.
“Anything that people are interested in taking, we’ll take suggestions and try to find instructors that will teach that,” said Osborne, adding that the gamut of subjects could range from how to play a musical instrument or learn a language, to solving Rubik’s cube.
The inspiration for Learn It Red Deer came from Pinterest, a popular photo-sharing website that seeks to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting.” Crafts are a mainstay of Pinterest, which Osborne said she and Spiller are addicted to.
“We were both thinking, ‘Why couldn’t I teach people how to do some of these things.”
In fact, classes inspired by items posted on Pinterest are already being organized in the United States, she said.
“It’s starting to pop up now.”
Osborne and Spiller reasoned that if they were going to start arranging classes, they might as well open it up to any theme that area residents wanted to learn about.
They’ve since set up a classroom at No. 205, 4801 51st Ave., where up to 16 students can be accommodated. And they have a website at www.learnitreddeer.com, where visitors can suggest and register for classes.
Discussions with prospective instructors is underway, said Osborne.
Classes will vary from single-day courses to others running over a number of weeks, she said. Initially, they’ll be offered in the evening or on weekends.
Osborne acknowledged that public education programs already exist in Red Deer, including those offered through Red Deer College’s Continuing Education department and the city’s Community Services Activity & Program Guide.
But she thinks Learn It Red Deer will appeal to people because of its flexibility in arranging courses and the social environment in its classes.
“We want to make it a really fun atmosphere there.”
Learn It Red Deer will hold an open house this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees will be able to view craft displays and learn about the business.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com